JP2001013818A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a considerable improvement in advertising effect to many and unspecified users by providing the device with a means for selecting additional images to be printed according to users' choices from plural displayed selection candidates under prescribed selection conditions. SOLUTION: Plural advertisement images are stored beforehand in a memory 25 for advertisement images of a copying machine main body 11. A user puts coins into a charging device 12, and selects a desired copy mode via an operation panel 18. In this case, an advertisement print can be selected by operating keys arranged in an advertising function selecting part 31. When this is selected, the kind of printable advertisement to be displayed on the operation panel 18 is changed according to a current time based on the information from a time counter IC 28. The user selects one desired advertisement from the choices of the printable advertisements displayed according to time zones, and press the copy start button. Then, the read original image of the user is printed, and then, the selected advertisement image is printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of greatly improving the advertising effect for an unspecified number of users when an additional image such as an advertising image is printed on a read document image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of copying machines, a large number of copying machines having a charging device have been installed in convenience stores and the like. Since the copier installed in such a place is used by an unspecified number of users, if copying and image information such as advertisements are added and printed, the advertiser can obtain a certain advertisement. The effect can be obtained.

[0003] In view of such a situation, is it necessary to provide a copier body capable of additionally synthesizing and printing an advertisement image in a blank portion generated when the read original image is printed on paper, and to copy the image with the advertisement image added? Various image forming apparatuses have been proposed in which a user and an advertiser are charged according to whether or not they are not.

[0004] This type of image forming apparatus is provided with a classifying means for classifying a plurality of held additional images according to a category relating to time or the environment (installation location, etc.) of each of the apparatuses, so that the additional images to be transmitted are classified. At the time of selection, by automatically selecting an additional image in a category corresponding to the request time of the additional image or the environment of each device that has requested the additional image, the relevant image can be selected at a time or place that matches the content of the additional image. There is known an image in which an additional image is synthesized and output so that a large advertisement effect can be efficiently performed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-256256). That is, in this image forming apparatus, the contents of the advertisement to be printed are automatically changed depending on time or environment.

[0005]

However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above publication, the advertisement image to be printed is switched according to time and environment, and the advertisement image suitable for the user is printed. However, since the switching of the advertisement image to be printed is automatically performed according to time and environment, that is, without considering individual specific users, it is performed uniformly on the assumption of a general user. ,
As a practical matter, it cannot be said that a useful advertisement image is always provided to the user, and there is a certain limit to improvement of the advertisement effect.

On the other hand, as described above, in a copying machine with a charging device installed in a convenience store or the like,
When used by an unspecified number of users, if an image such as an advertisement is added and printed when copying, a certain advertisement effect can be obtained and it is effective. If the advertisement images are stored and each user selects which advertisement image is to be printed, it should actually be useful for each specific user. But,
When the number of stored advertisement images is large, displaying all types of advertisements on a display unit such as a panel and prompting the user to select them is, as a practical matter, difficult for the user to select. There is a problem. Therefore,
If the device automatically selects and displays an advertisement (selection candidate) to be displayed on a panel or the like to some extent while leaving the possibility that the user can select the advertisement, and the user can easily select the advertisement, In addition, since the user can obtain the advertisement image that he / she really wants by his / her own selection, the user should be able to efficiently obtain a more appropriate and effective advertisement effect than before. In addition, when automatically selecting and displaying advertisements to be displayed, the selection conditions (options, priority, selection, etc.) of the advertisements by the user according to the environment (time, installation location, copy mode, etc.) when the user makes a copy. It is even more effective if the number of the advertisement images is changed so as to make it easier to select a useful advertisement image for the user.

[0007] Even when an advertisement image to be printed is automatically selected, personal information such as the age and gender of the user is not the time and environment in which the relevance to a specific user is rare as in the past. In consideration of the information, automatic selection of an advertisement image more appropriate for each user can be performed, and it can be expected that the advertisement effect is further enhanced. In addition,
This kind of improvement in advertising effectiveness by taking personal information into account,
As described above, this also applies to the case of selecting advertisements to be displayed (selection candidates).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and greatly improves the advertising effect for an unspecified number of users when an additional image such as an advertising image is printed on a read document image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the following.

[0009]

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

(1) In the present invention, a plurality of additional images are stored in advance, and when printing a read document image, the additional image to be printed is selected from the plurality of prestored additional images. In an image forming apparatus that prints in addition to a document image, a display unit that displays a plurality of printable selection candidates from among the plurality of pre-stored additional images, Selecting means for selecting an additional image to be printed according to a user's selection from the displayed plurality of selection candidates.

(2) There is further provided changing means for changing a condition for selecting a plurality of additional images stored in advance in accordance with a condition when a user copies a document image.

(3) The condition is an environment when a user copies a document image.

(4) The environment in which the user copies a document image is a copy mode.

(5) The environment in which the user copies a document image is the current time.

(6) The environment in which the user copies a document image is the installation location of the apparatus.

(7) The selection condition is a type of a selection candidate to be displayed on the display means.

(8) The selection condition is an order of selection candidates to be displayed on the display means.

(9) The selection condition is the number of selectable additional images.

(10) According to the present invention, a plurality of additional images are stored in advance, and when printing a read document image, the additional image to be printed is selected from the plurality of pre-stored additional images to select the additional image. In an image forming apparatus that prints in addition to an original image, the image forming apparatus is installed at a location away from the main body of the apparatus,
Switching means for switching between selection of an additional image to be printed from among the plurality of pre-stored additional images or display of printable selection candidates by remote operation.

(11) In the present invention, a plurality of additional images are stored in advance, and when printing a read original image, the additional image to be printed is selected from the plurality of pre-stored additional images to select the additional image. In an image forming apparatus for printing in addition to a document image, a charging unit for charging a user with an information storage medium storing amount information, and the pre-stored based on personal information pre-stored in the information storage medium Switching means for switching selection of an additional image to be printed from among the plurality of additional images thus selected or display of printable selection candidates.

(12) The personal information is the age of the user.

(13) The personal information is the gender of the user.

(14) The personal information is the occupation of the user.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 10 is a copying machine (or a copying machine) equipped with a charging device and installed in a convenience store or the like and used by an unspecified number of users. 11 and a charging device 12 for charging a user. The illustrated billing device 12 is a coin vender, and a user can copy a document by inserting coins into the billing device 12 and operating the copying machine body 11.

Here, the charging device 12 displays the inserted amount, permits the copying operation of the copying machine body 11 in accordance with the inserted amount, and collects a predetermined amount when the copying operation is performed. , Subtract the displayed amount. The amount to be subtracted differs depending on the paper size used for copying, the set copy color mode, and the like. Further, the charging device 12 prohibits the copying operation of the copying machine main body 11 when the remaining amount after the subtraction by performing the copying operation is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Then, when the fee is input again, the copying machine body 11
Is permitted again. Thus, the charging device 1
Reference numeral 2 has a function of instructing the copying machine main body 11 to permit or prohibit a copying operation while managing the amount of money (usage fee and remaining amount).

More specifically, the charging device 12 has a vertically long box shape, and has a coin insertion slot 13 on its upper surface,
A coin return button 14 for returning coins, a money amount display section 15 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like and displaying the inserted amount or the remaining amount are provided, and a coin return opening 16 is provided on the front surface. The charging device 12 is connected to the copier main body 1 via a relay connector 17 pulled out from the back.
1 is connected.

The copier body 11 communicates with the accounting device 12 via the relay connector 17. The copier body 11 transmits various information such as a copy operation, a paper feed signal, a paper discharge signal, a size, and a copy mode to the billing device 12. On the other hand, the billing device 12 transmits various information such as copy permission, copy non-permission, and input amount to the copying machine body 11. The copying machine body 11 is controlled to a copy enabled state or a copy disabled state based on various information transmitted and received. Further, on the upper surface of the copying machine body 11, an operation panel 18 used when the user sets a copy mode such as the number of copies (the number of copies) is provided.

The billing device 12 calculates the required amount of money from the inserted amount and the copy mode set by the user on the operation panel 18 of the copying machine body 11, determines whether or not copying is possible, and makes a copy. If so, a copy permission signal is transmitted to the copying machine body 11. The copying machine main body 11 to which the copy permission signal has been sent is set in a state where copying is possible for the user.

When the user presses a copy start button (not shown) on the operation panel 18, the copying machine body 11 starts a predetermined copying operation, and when the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 19, the charging device 12 is started. The emission information is transmitted to.
The billing device 12 to which the discharge information is sent subtracts a predetermined amount according to a copy mode such as size or color. When the usage fee is sequentially reduced and the remaining amount is less than the amount required for copying, the charging device 12 transmits a copy prohibition signal to the copying machine body 11. The copy prohibition signal sets the copying machine body 11 to a state where copying is not possible to the user.

Although the charging apparatus 12 in which coins are inserted, that is, a coin vender is illustrated here, the charging apparatus is not limited to this. For example, a billing device that inserts an information storage medium such as a prepaid card storing amount information and manages charges based on the balance information stored in the card may be used.

Further, the copying machine 10 has a function of adding an additional image such as an advertisement to a read document image and printing it according to the user's request when the user copies the document. . As described above, when an original image is printed with an advertisement image or the like added thereto, the billing device 1 for the user is used.
In addition to the above, a second charging device is provided in the memory of the copying machine main body 11 to record the number of printed advertisements and collectively charge the advertiser at regular intervals.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a printing mode of the copying machine 10. FIG. 2A shows a case where only the original image is printed, and FIG. 2B shows a margin of the original image. FIG. 4C shows a case where an advertisement image is printed on a sheet, and FIG. 3C shows a case where the advertisement image is printed on the back surface of the sheet on which the document image is printed or on another sheet.

That is, the copying machine 10 is constructed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to printing only the original image, if the user desires, as shown in FIG. 2 (B) or FIG.
The advertisement image can be printed on the margin or the back side of the sheet on which the document is copied, or on another sheet. More specifically, when the advertisement image is not printed, the image of the original is printed on copy paper as it is, as shown in FIG.
When an advertisement image is printed in the margin, FIG.
As shown in (B), the blank portion of the original image is automatically detected, and the advertisement image is combined with the blank portion (the lower portion of the sheet in the illustrated example) and printed. When the advertisement image is printed on the back surface or on another sheet, as shown in FIG. 2C, the advertisement image is largely printed on the back surface of the sheet on which the original image is printed or on another sheet. And
Whether or not to print the advertisement, and if the advertisement printing is to be performed, further, the printing form, that is, printing in the margin (margin advertisement), printing on the back side (backside advertisement), or printing on another sheet Whether or not to do so (interleaf advertisement) can be arbitrarily set by the user.

FIG. 3 is a basic flowchart showing a general processing procedure when an advertisement is printed in the copying machine 10 of FIG.

In the above-described copier 10 with a charging device installed in a convenience store or the like, an unspecified number of users who visit the store are charged with the charging device 1 attached to the copier 10.
2 is charged (S1), and the desired copy mode is set by the user through the operation panel 18 of the copying machine body 11 (S2). At this time, various settings relating to advertisement printing can also be made.

Thereafter, when the user presses the copy start button (S3), the copying operation of the original is performed (S4), and it is determined whether or not the advertisement printing is performed (S5). When the advertisement printing is performed (S5). : YES), advertisement printing is performed (S6).
At this time, the determination as to whether or not to perform the advertisement printing in step 5 may be based on the information set by the user at the time of setting the copy mode in step 2 as in this embodiment. There may be a case where the apparatus automatically determines the advertisement from the environment and prints the advertisement. When the advertisement printing in step 6 is performed, a plurality of advertisement images are stored in the copying machine main body 11 in advance, and the advertisement image selected by a method described later is copied to an original copy paper in accordance with a user setting. (Margin advertisement), printing on the back side of the original copy paper (backside advertisement), or printing on a sheet different from the original copy paper (interleaf advertisement).

When a series of copying operations including advertisement printing is completed, the above-described charging processing is performed on the amount of money input to the charging device 12 (S7). The billing process in this case is a billing for the user, but also bills the advertiser providing the advertisement. As described above, the billing to the advertiser is performed by recording the advertisement print in the memory of the copying machine main body 11 so that the advertiser can be billed collectively at regular intervals.

In particular, in the present embodiment, as will be described in detail later, the content (type) of the advertisement to be printed is considered in consideration of the fact that the copying machine 10 is used by an unspecified number of users. A plurality of advertisement images are stored in advance in the copying machine main body 11 in advance so that the maximum advertisement effect can be efficiently obtained. The content (type) is displayed, and the user is allowed to select an advertisement to be actually printed. This allows the user to select the advertisement image that he / she really wants. In this case, in order to improve the operability, a plurality of selection candidates considered optimal for the user are automatically selected from a plurality of advertisement images stored in advance and displayed on the display means. At this time, in order to make it easier to select an advertisement image that is useful for each user, depending on the environment in which the user copies the original, for example, the copy mode, the current time, the installation location of the copying machine 10, and the like, Advertisement selection conditions by the user, for example, types of selection candidates to be displayed on the display means (choices of advertisement selection by the user), order of layout of selection candidates to be displayed on the display means (priority of advertisement selection by the user) The number of advertisement images that can be actually selected from the plurality of selection candidates displayed on the display means (the number of advertisement selections that can be selected by the user) and the like are changed. Such advertisement selection conditions (type, order, and number of selectable advertisement images) of the user are also displayed on the display unit.

In the case where the advertisement image to be printed is automatically selected instead of the case where the user himself selects the advertisement as described above, the personal information such as the age and gender of the user is specified to specify the individual. The most suitable advertisement image is automatically selected and printed for the user, and the advertisement effect is further enhanced. Specifically, for example, the copying machine 10
In a place that is far away from and where the user can be identified visually (for example, at a convenience store cash register), manually by remote control by a clerk who has identified the user's personal information (age, gender, occupation, etc.) The advertisement image to be printed can be switched. Also, in a copying machine equipped with a billing device using an information storage medium such as a prepaid card, personal information of a user is recorded in advance when selling or issuing a prepaid card, and when the user makes a copy, The advertisement image to be printed can be switched based on personal information such as age, gender, and occupation of the user recorded on the prepaid card or the like. Further, it is also possible to switch the contents (type) of the selection candidates to be displayed based on the personal information of the user input by such a remote operation as a clerk or through an information storage medium such as a prepaid card.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of such a copying machine 10. As shown in FIG.

The copying machine 10 includes a copying machine body 11 and a billing device 12 that can communicate with each other via a relay connector 17 and input / output interfaces (I / Fs) 20 and 40. The unit 21 includes an image scanner unit 22 that reads an original image, a signal processing unit 23 that performs signal processing on image data output from the image scanner unit 22, and a printer unit that prints an image corresponding to the original image on paper. 24 and the operation panel 18 are connected. The control unit 21 includes an advertisement image memory 25 that stores a plurality of advertisement images in advance, a billing memory 26 that accumulates and stores the number of printed advertisements and billing to the advertiser, and temporarily stores image data. A work memory 27 used for storing and synthesizing images, a clock IC 28 for measuring the current time and date, a counter 29 for accumulating the number of printed advertisements, and the like are connected. The control unit 21
In addition to controlling the various parts of the copying machine body 11, the charging device 1
It also controls communication between the two.

By accumulating and storing the billing for the advertiser in the billing memory 26, billing information can be collectively obtained for each predetermined period. The amount accumulated and stored as one of the billing information is the amount charged to the advertiser, and this amount is collectively charged to the advertiser at predetermined intervals.

The operation panel 18 has a number key for setting the number of copies, a key for setting a color mode (monochrome copy / color copy) for printing an original image, and other copy modes (for example, double-sided copy, enlargement / reduction). Various keys 32 such as a key for selecting or setting copy and the like and a start key, and a display unit 30 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying a setting state, a list of printable advertisements, and other various information are arranged. Further, an advertisement function selection unit 31 is provided in a part of the operation panel 18.

The advertisement function selecting section 31 sets whether or not to print an advertisement, selects an advertisement image to be printed from a plurality of displayed advertisement images (selection candidates), and sets an original image. The user operates when selecting to print only the advertisement image without printing.
Specifically, for example, a key for setting whether or not to perform advertisement printing, a margin advertisement, a backside advertisement when performing advertisement printing, and a key for selecting in which form of interleaf advertisement to print, and A key for selecting a desired advertisement from a plurality of advertisement images (selection candidates) displayed by the user is arranged. The keys of the advertisement function selection unit 31 are, for example, touch panel keys. In this case, the touch panel type advertisement function selection unit 31 may be the display unit 30 or a part thereof.

On the other hand, the display unit 15 described above is connected to the control unit 41 of the charging device 12, and furthermore, an input amount reading unit 42 for reading the amount input by the user, a charging table memory 43, the number of copies, A billing memory 44 for accumulating and storing the billing amount is connected. The control unit 41 controls each unit of the charging device 12 and also controls communication with the copying machine main body 11.

The billing table memory 43 includes a billing amount table for each of the user and the advertiser according to the copy productivity, a billing amount table according to the details of the contents of the advertisement image, the color mode of the original image, and the advertisement. A table of the charge amount according to the combination of the color modes of the image is stored. The control unit 41 charges each of the user and the advertiser while referring to a necessary table according to a specific copy operation to be executed.

The copying machine 10 is connected to a terminal 50 at a predetermined place in the store where the copying machine 10 is installed (for example, a cash register where the user can be visually confirmed). When the clerk operates the terminal 50 at a cash register or the like located away from the copying machine 10, the status of the copying machine main body 11, such as the current number of remaining sheets and the remaining amount of toner, the usage status of advertisement printing, You can check the amount charged to the advertiser. Also, the clerk manually switches the content of the advertisement image to be printed or the content of the displayed advertisement image (selection candidate) that can be selected by the user by remote control according to the age, gender, occupation, etc. of the user. Is also possible.

When the fee is inserted not by coin but by a prepaid card or the like, the user's personal information (age, gender, occupation, etc.) stored in the prepaid card or the like is read by the charging device 12 and copied. It is also possible to switch the content of the advertisement image to be sent to the machine body 11 and printed, or the content of the displayed user-selectable advertisement image (selection candidate) based on the personal information.

The copier 10 can also be connected to a terminal in a management facility that manages this type of copier 10 installed in a plurality of stores in one place via a network (not shown). Good. In this management facility, the operation status of each copying machine 10 is grasped, billing information to the advertiser sent from each copying machine 10 is integrated, and the advertiser is collectively billed. The advertisement image stored in the main body 11 can be periodically replaced by remote control.

Specific examples of various control for changing the contents of the advertisement to be printed or the contents of the displayed printable selection candidates will be described below in order. In addition, each flowchart shown below,
Although the basic flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is modified as appropriate, the charge processing is omitted for simplification.

<< Embodiment 1 >> The change control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is for changing the type of the advertisement image (selection candidate) to be displayed according to time (time). Here, it is assumed that 12 types of advertisement images from advertisement A to advertisement L are stored in advance in the advertisement image memory 25 of the copying machine body 11.

When the user inputs a fee to the charging device 12 (S101), the user sets a desired copy mode by himself / herself through the operation panel 18 (S102).
By operating the keys provided in the advertisement function selection unit 31, it is possible to select whether or not to print an advertisement.

In step 103, it is determined whether or not to print an advertisement based on the setting information of the user in step 102. If the user selects to print the advertisement (S103: YES), the process proceeds to step 104. If the advertisement is not printed (S103: NO), step 1
Proceed to 13.

If the advertisement printing is selected in step 103, the current time is determined based on the information from the clock IC 28 (S104), and the touch panel of the operation panel 18 is selected according to the current time. The type of printable advertisement (selection candidate) to be displayed on the expression advertisement function selection unit 31) is changed (S105 to S108). Specifically, for example, when the current time is between 0:00 and 6:00, advertisements A, B, and C are displayed (S105), and 6:00 to 6:00.
When it is between 12:00, advertisements D, E, and F are displayed (S106). When it is between 12:00 and 18:00, advertisements G, H, and I are displayed (S107). 18:00
If it is between 24:00 and 24:00, advertisements J, K, and L are displayed (S108). The display on the operation panel 18 is
The advertisement image may be a reduced image of the advertisement image actually printed on paper, or may be a description of the advertisement image. As described above, by changing the type of advertisement to be displayed according to the current time (time zone), an advertisement suitable for the user is easily selected.

Thereafter, the user selects, for example, one advertisement desired to be printed from the options of printable advertisements displayed according to the time zone (S109), and presses a copy start button (S110).

When copying starts, first, the read original image of the user is printed (S111), and then the advertisement image selected in step 109 is printed (S11).
2). At this time, the advertisement image is
It is printed in the margin of the original copy sheet (margin advertisement), printed on the back side of the original copy sheet (backside advertisement), or printed on a sheet different from the original copy sheet (interleaf advertisement).

If the printing of the advertisement image is not selected in step 103, a normal original copy operation for printing only the original image is performed by a copy start operation by the user (S113) (S114).

More specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the advertisement function selecting unit 3 of the touch panel type provided on the operation panel 18 of the copying machine body 11 is used.
1, the type of advertisement image that can be printed is displayed, and the user selects an advertisement to be printed. The advertisements stored in the copying machine main body 11 include, for example, 20 types of advertisement images of foods A to E, cosmetics A to E, books A to E, and stationery A to E. Even if you try to put
Not all are included due to the area of the display portion (screen), and it is difficult for the user to select even if many are displayed. Therefore, here, eight options are prepared on the display screen.

In this embodiment, the type of selectable advertisement to be displayed is changed depending on the time (time zone) at which the user performs the copy operation. For example, from 6:00 to 12:00
In the morning, as shown in FIG. 7, 18:
As shown in FIG. 8, the type of the advertisement image that can be selected by the user is switched in the time zone from the evening of 00 to 24:00 and the evening as shown in FIG. 8. Here, in the morning, housewives use a lot of food, so advertisements for food are increased (see Fig. 7). In the evening and afternoon, students often use advertisements, so book advertisements are used. (See FIG. 8).

As described above, by changing the type of printable advertisement to be displayed according to time (time), an advertisement image suitable for the user can be easily selected, and the user can select an advertisement image that the user really wants. Therefore, an appropriate and large advertisement effect can be efficiently obtained.

Embodiment 2 The change control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is for changing the number of selectable advertisement images depending on the copy mode. Note that this change control
In particular, the present invention is suitable for a margin advertisement in which an area where an advertisement image can be printed is limited, that is, when an advertisement is printed in a margin portion of a sheet on which a document is copied.

When the user enters a fee into the billing device 12 (S201), he or she sets a desired copy mode through the operation panel 18 (S202).
By operating the keys provided in the advertisement function selection unit 31, it is possible to select whether or not to print an advertisement.

In step 203, it is determined whether or not to print an advertisement based on the user setting information in step 202. If the user has selected to print an advertisement (S203: YES), the process proceeds to step 204. If the advertisement is not printed (S203: NO), Step 2
Proceed to 13.

If the advertisement printing is selected in step 203, a suitable plurality of advertisement images can be selected from a plurality of advertisement images stored in advance in the copier body 11 (advertisement image memory 25). The contents of the advertisement (selection candidate) are displayed on the operation panel 18 (the advertisement function selection unit 31 of a touch panel type).
(S204).

Thereafter, the number (the number of copies) set in step 202 is determined (S205), and the number of selectable advertisement images is changed according to the set number (S205).
206-S209). Specifically, for example, the number is 1 to
When the number is two, the number that can be selected is one (S20
6) When the number is three or four, the selectable number is two (S207). When the number is five or six, the selectable number is three.
(S208), and when the number is seven or more, the number that can be selected is four (S209). Note that changing the number of selectable advertisement images according to the number of placements is limited when a margin advertisement is set as a form of advertisement printing, in which the area where the advertisement image can be printed is limited. Therefore, the user must limit the number of advertisement images to be printed according to the number of sheets to be copied.

Thereafter, the user selects an advertisement that he or she wants to print from the displayed printable advertisement options within the selectable number range determined by the placement number (S2).
10) Press the copy start button (S211). As a result, the image of the user's document and the image of the advertisement selected by the user are printed in the margin advertisement print mode (S212).

If printing of the advertisement image is not selected in step 203, the user performs a copy start operation (S213) to perform a normal original copy operation of printing only the original image (S214).

In the first embodiment, the case where the type of the advertisement image to be displayed is changed according to the time (time) is shown. In the second embodiment, the advertisement image that can be selected according to the copy mode (number of copies) is shown. Although the case where the number is changed is shown, the content of the selection condition of the advertisement by the user, the content of the condition for changing the selection condition, and the combination of both are not limited to the above example. For example, as described above, in addition to the types of advertisement images to be displayed and the number of selectable advertisement images, the order of layout among a plurality of advertisement images to be displayed (for example, FIG.
Is used, the user tends to preferentially select the advertisement placed at the top (here, food A or cosmetics B), and the change conditions of the selection conditions include the time and the In addition to the copy mode, there are places where the copying machine 10 is installed (for example, whether it is near a hospital or a library). As the combination of the selection condition and the change condition thereof, in addition to the first and second embodiments, the case where the type and / or the order of the advertisement images to be displayed is changed according to the installation location of the copying machine 10 or It is effective to change the order (and / or type) of the advertisement images to be displayed according to time (time), and a more complex combination of three or more conditions is also possible. .

<< Embodiment 3 >> The change control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is a case where the type of an advertisement image to be displayed is changed by remote operation or personal information recorded in advance on a prepaid card.

The user enters a fee into the billing device 12 (S301), and operates a key provided in the advertisement function selection section 31 of the operation panel 18 to select whether or not to print an advertisement (S302). If it is selected to print an advertisement (S302: YES), the process proceeds to step 303,
If printing of the advertisement image has not been selected (S302: NO), the flow proceeds to step 307.

In the case of performing advertisement printing, if a fee is inserted in coins, while the user is setting the copy mode via the operation panel 18 (S303),
At a location away from the copying machine 10, for example, at a cashier of a convenience store, a store clerk may check the age and gender of the user,
By judging the occupation, etc., and operating the terminal 50,
Switching the type of advertisement image (selection candidate) to be displayed (S
304). Here, when the user selects to print the advertisement image and the clerk inputs the user's age and gender to the terminal 50, the advertisement image to be printed may be automatically selected. .

In the case of printing an advertisement, if a charge is inserted with a prepaid card, a copy mode is set by the user via the operation panel 18 (S303), and the copy mode is recorded in advance on the prepaid card at the time of sale. The type of advertisement image (selection candidate) to be displayed is switched based on personal information such as the age, gender, and occupation of the user (S304). Note that, here, when the user selects to print the advertisement image, the advertisement image to be printed is automatically selected based on the information such as the user's age and gender recorded on the prepaid card. Good.

Thereafter, when the user presses the copy start button (S305), the read advertisement image is printed with the selected advertisement image added thereto (S306). here,
The advertisement image may be printed on the margin of the document image, or may be printed on a sheet or on the back side different from the document image.

If the advertisement printing is not performed, the user sets the copy mode (S307) and presses the copy start button (S308). Then, a normal original copy operation for printing only the original image is performed (S309).

FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of automatic selection of an advertisement image according to the age and gender of the user.

Here, the type of advertisement image to be selected is
As shown in the figure, the information is classified according to the age and gender of the user, and when the information of the user's age and gender is input by the clerk's remote control or by the personal information of the prepaid card, the printing corresponding to each is performed. The advertisement image to be used is automatically selected. For example, ads for cosmetics are classified for young women, and ads for cars are classified for young men.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects are obtained for each claim.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of printable selection candidates are displayed from a plurality of prestored additional images, and the user is allowed to select an additional image to be printed. Therefore, the user can always select a desired additional image, and can efficiently obtain an appropriate and large advertising effect. Also, at this time, not all of the plurality of pre-stored additional images are necessarily displayed, but only a plurality of selection candidates among them are displayed, so that the selection is not troublesome by the user, and a certain operability is provided. Can be secured.

According to the second to ninth aspects of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect of the present invention, the environment (for example, copy mode, current time, installation of the apparatus, etc.) when the user copies the original is set. The conditions for selecting additional images by the user (for example, the types and order of selection candidates to be displayed, the number of selectable additional images, etc.) are changed according to the location, etc. It is easy to select a useful and optimal additional image, and the advertisement effect is further improved.

According to the tenth aspect, selection of an additional image to be printed out of a plurality of pre-stored additional images or display of a printable selection candidate is performed by remote control from a remote place. Since switching is performed, switching can be performed after judging the user's age, gender, occupation, etc., so that an optimal additional image can always be provided to the user, and the advertising effect can be further improved. .

According to the present invention, the selection of an additional image to be printed from the plurality of pre-stored additional images or the display of printable selection candidates is stored in the information storage medium in advance. Switching based on the user's personal information (eg, age, gender, occupation, etc.), it is possible to always provide the user with an optimal additional image and further improve the advertising effect. Can be

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a printing mode by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a basic flowchart showing a general processing procedure when performing advertisement printing in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for changing a type of an advertisement image to be displayed according to time.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example for explaining the control of FIG. 5;

7 is a diagram showing another display example for explaining the control of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another display example for explaining the control of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for changing the number of advertisement images selectable in a copy mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control for changing a type of an advertisement image to be displayed by remote operation or personal information recorded in a prepaid card in advance.

FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of automatic selection of an advertisement image according to a user's age and gender.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Copy machine with a billing device (image forming apparatus), 11 ... Copy machine main body, 12 ... Billing device, 18 ... Operation panel, 21 ... Copy machine body control part (selection means, change means, switching means), 31 ... Advertisement function selection unit (display means), 50... In-store terminal (switching means).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C087 AA09 AB01 BA03 BA07 BA14 BB03 BB09 BD09 BD53 BD55 CB20 DA01 2H027 EJ06 EJ13 EJ15 FA30 FD01 FD08 FD10 ZA07 5B021 AA01 PP06 5C076 AA14 AA16 CA02 BA06 CA08

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A method of storing a plurality of additional images in advance and selecting an additional image to be printed from among the plurality of previously stored additional images when printing a read original image, and adding the selected additional image to the original image. Display means for displaying a plurality of printable selection candidates from among the plurality of pre-stored additional images; and a plurality of display means displayed on the display means under a predetermined selection condition. Selecting means for selecting an additional image to be printed from a selection candidate in accordance with a user's selection. 2. An image according to claim 1, further comprising changing means for changing a selection condition of the plurality of pre-stored additional images according to a condition when a user copies a document image. Forming equipment. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condition is an environment when a user copies a document image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an environment in which the user copies a document image is a copy mode. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the environment in which the user copies the document image is a current time. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an environment in which the user copies the document image is an installation place of the apparatus. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection condition is a type of a selection candidate to be displayed on the display unit. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection condition is an order of selection candidates displayed on the display unit. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection condition is a number of selectable additional images. 10. A plurality of additional images are stored in advance, and when printing a read document image, an additional image to be printed is selected from the plurality of prestored additional images and added to the document image. An image forming apparatus that is installed at a position distant from the main body of the apparatus, and selects an additional image to be printed from among the plurality of pre-stored additional images or a printable selection candidate by remote control. An image forming apparatus comprising: switching means for switching display. 11. A method of storing a plurality of additional images in advance and selecting an additional image to be printed from among the plurality of previously stored additional images when printing the read original image, and adding the selected additional image to the original image. Charging means for charging a user with an information storage medium storing amount information, and the plurality of pre-stored additional information based on personal information pre-stored in the information storage medium. Switching means for switching between selection of an additional image to be printed from among the images or display of printable selection candidates. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the personal information is a user's age. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the personal information is a gender of a user. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the personal information is an occupation of a user.